Improvement in scythes relating to the mode of fastening the thole or handle upon



FOX & FERRY.

Scythe Handie.

I Patented Aug 4, 1841.

9 .0 OJ e W J TJNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

S. \V. FOX AND A. FERRY, OF BERNABDSTOW'N, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN SCYTHES RELATING TO THE MODE 0F FASTENING THE THOLE OR HANDLE UPON THE SNATH.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2,208. dated August 4, 184] .To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, SELAH NV. FOX and ARETAs FERRY, both of Bernardstown, in the county of Franklin and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful linprovements in the Tholes or Handles of Scythe- Snaths, and in their application to the snath; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which will be hereinafter described, and which, taken in connection herewith, form our specification, in which we have set forth the principles of our invcntions,by which they may be i distinguished from others for a similar purpose, and such parts or combinations as we claim, and for which we solicit an exclusive property, to be secured to us for fourteen years by Letters Patent.

The accompanying drawings represent our improvement, Figure 1 being an elevation of the handle as applied to the snath, the latter being seen in section. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the thole and snath.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the handle and snath;

and Fig. t is a view of the ring detached from the snath.

The object of our invention is to adjust and confine the thole to any part of the sna-th where it may be desirable to place it.

In the drawings, a, Figs. 1, 2, 3, represents the clampring of the nib, which is passed over and slides on the snath m. The lower part,b, Figs. 2, 4-, of this ring is cast or formed of the conical shape shown in the above figures, so as to permit a female screw, 0, to be cut therein. To one side of the interior of the ring the curved spring 0 is riveted, the end of the same being notched or let into the ring, so as to form a continuation of the curve of the interior of the same. The other end of the spring terminates in a circular or elongated washer, (l. The upper part of the handle 0 of the thole is hollowed out, as seen at f, to receive the conical end of the clamp-ring, and has a metallic collar, g, arranged thereon to protect it or prevent it from splitting. Through the center of the handle a square or other proper shaped shank, h, is driven, or otherwise firmly secured therein." 011 the upper T end of the shank a suitable male screw is formed, which engages with and passes through the female screw 0, before described as cut in the conical end of the ring. The head or end of the shank abuts against the lower side of the spring-washer d, and it will be seen by the above-described arrangement of the parts that when the handle and shank are turned, the head of the shank, by means of the screw, will press the spring-washer against the lower side of the curved face of the snath, and at the same time draw the interior of the ring closely upon the snath. The male and female screws should be so arranged that on turning the will operate to fasten the thole to the snath,in order that the use or wielding of the scythe may tend to increase the firmness with which the parts are held together instead of diminishing the same.

Our next improvement is exhibited inFigs. 5 and 6, the former being a side elevation of a port-ion of the snath and parts affixed thereon. Fig. 6 is a crosssection of the same. This second improvement consists in so arranging the parts composing the thole or handle that the wooden portion of the same shall notbe drawn down upon or against the collar by means of the screwthatis to say, so that the collar may not be forced against the snath by the end of wooden part of the handle; and for this purpose we insert or drive into the wood a pointed shank, (1, Figs. 5, 6, having a a square or circular shoulder or head, Z1, formed thereon, and which enters the wood, as seen in the drawings. The screw d, which draws the clamp-ring down upon the snath f, and thereby crowds the collar against the opposite side of the same, extends beyond the shoulder and passes through a cylindrical hole cut through any time be broken or split off, the operations of the mower need not be retarded, for the handle to the left the screw on the shank the bottom of the collar 9, and as the shoulder shank will serve the purpose pro tom. of a I gether substantially inthe manner above dehandle, around which he can wrap his handkerchief, and thus use the instrument until a convenient opportunity offers for repairing it. It is intended that theportion of the shoulder I) which abuts against the bottom of the collar shall extend a little beyond the wood of the handle, or may be about even therewith, so as not to bring said wood too strongly in contact with the bottom of the collar, and thereby loosen the handle from the shank.

Having thus described our improven'lents, we shall claim as our inveution Constructing the clampring oi" the thole with a spring washer on the interior of the same, and combining the said clamp-ring with a shank firmly fixed in the handle and having a male screw at one end which engages with a corresponding female screw in the lower and conical shaped part of the clanipring, the whole being constructed and operating to scribed, and forthe purpose of firmly confining the handle to the snath.

2. Forming the shank, which is inserted in the wooden handle with a shoulder, b, as represented in Figs. 5 and 6, and as above described, by means of which the shoulder operates to press the collar against the snath, and draws the clamp-ring down upon the opposite side of the same independent of the wooden part of the handle, the whole being for the purpose hereinabove specified.

In testimony that the above is a true specification of our improvements we have hereto set our signatures this 17th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1841.

SELAH NV. FOX. ARETAS FERRY.

\Vitnesses:

HENRY W. ()usinriw, 'Mosns WAIT, .Tr. 

